A government minister visited one of the borough’s libraries to find out about the impact of its possible closure.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid, visited North Harrow library, in Pinner Road this morning with parliamentary candidate for Harrow West, Hannah David.

The library is one of four earmarked for closure by Harrow Borough Council as cost cutting measure in its latest budget.

The authority is currently consulting on the proposals to North Harrow as well as Bob Lawrence Library in Edgware, Hatch End Library in the Harrow Arts Centre, and Rayners Lane Library in Imperial Drive.

Mr Javid said: “I am here today to see the work of this library and find out more about the different service it provides.

“Libraries are very important places, not simply for the borrowing of books and a place to read, but also to the whole community and they form a hub for an area.”

Harrow council says it needs to make £25million worth of cuts in the next year and closing four of the borough’s ten libraries would save an estimated £480,000 a year.

When asked about the level of cuts from government the council is facing, the cabinet minister said: “Services and departments across the government and the country have to cope with cuts, from central government to local government.

“I think by making efficiencies at the council and trimming the fat as it were to back room departments, then the local authority should be able to maintain frontline services.”

However in response Leader of Harrow council, Cllr David Perry said: “Sajid Javid’s visit to Harrow claiming to support local libraries is hypocrisy of the highest calibre.”

He said the council is being forced to make local cuts because the "Conservative government is imposing £75m of funding cuts on the authority and the community of Harrow".

He added: “Our residents are being placed in an impossible situation and so if Mr Javid values local government services so much then maybe he should be asking David Cameron to reverse certain Tory policies of tax breaks for millionaires and billions of pounds of funding cuts to local Councils across the country."

The council consultation into the future of Harrow’s libraries closes on January 19 next year, and those interested in taking part can do so by clicking here.